If you are looking for a business that will never lack customers then a driving school is a great idea. People will always want to learn how to drive. If you have experience as a driving instructor, then running a driving school will not be too difficult. It requires quite a bit of money to buy the cars but the beauty is that you can start small with, say, three cars and expand as the business picks up.
Get experience as a driving instructor. Before starting a driving school in California, you are required to have at least 2000 hours of driving-instructor experience. There are a number of driving schools such as Western truck school in Sacramento; California Driving School in Monterey Park; and many others. Search for driving schools in your area and apply to be an instructor there. You have to be at least 21 years old.
Take the certified driver-instructor course. This includes 60 hours in a classroom and an exam. It can cost up to $2,500. You will then have to take the California DMV driving-instructor exam. The application fee is $30, and there is a $30 reinstatement fee, and a $15 transfer of license fee.
Apply for a driving-school owner license. The forms can be downloaded from the California DMV website. There are several forms to be filled out, such as certificate of compliance forms and insurance forms. You will pay a $150 nonrefundable fee among other costs. You will also have to submit your lesson plan for approval. As part of the license requirement, your place of business should have an office. The premises are to be devoted only to the business that is being carried out. The vehicles you will use in your school will also have to be inspected before you are issued with a license. It takes around120 days to process an application. The application packages are handed in to the occupational license inspectors. Other than the driving school owner license, you are also required to have an Instructors License.
Advertise your driving school. You can do so in the local newspaper, in high schools, or through fliers. Offer discounts to attract new customers and retain old ones. You can also advertise online and by printing t-shirts.
